Airbus and P&W to study SAF production and plan to fly A220 with 100% SAF

Airbus and Pratt & Whitney Canada (P&WC) have joined together to study the feasibility of establishing a sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production site in Quebec, and to fly an A220 powered by 100% SAF. They have partnered on the effort with Quebec fuel development company SAF+ Consortium, and the project has backing from Quebec’s government, P&WC parent Pratt & Whitney (P&W) said on 21 April. “Key areas of collaboration include SAF research and testing, including flight testing blends of up to 100% SAF on an Airbus A220 aircraft powered by Pratt & Whitney GTF engines,” says P&W. Canada needs to get cracking on SAF production if it has any chance of meeting output goals. As of late 2022, the country had “no meaningful” SAF production, but the federal government has an “aspiration goal” for SAF to account for 30% of the aviation sector’s fuel usage by 2030, says Canada’s Aviation Climate Action Plan, updated in 2022. The USA is not much better positioned. A March US government report said SAF accounted for only 0.09% of US airlines’ jet fuel usage in 2022. Airlines globally view SAF as critical to them becoming carbon neutral by 2050. P&WC, Airbus and SAF+ intend to spend some C$17m ($12.5m) on their new SAF partnership, says P&W. The Quebec government’s “funding can reach up to 50% of the total amount invested in the project,” and will be awarded through 2027, says Airbus.<br/>